Tjapukai aboriginal cultural park

General information

Destination	Category
Cairns, Australia	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

Tjapukai is a celebration of the living history of the indigenous people of the rainforest. Learn to play the didgeridoo, discover the medicinal values of bush tucker, throw a spear and enjoy professional theatre incorporating traditional Aboriginal dance, fire making and storytelling.

Revel in a unique theatre experience blending contemporary modern Australian music with the traditional didgeridoo. Learn how to make and play a didgeridoo before a live performance with the traditional instrument. A Tjapukai warrior will show you how the Aboriginal culture uses traditional tools and weapons used over 40,000 years ago. Be educated in how to use the traditional spear throwing instrument, a Milay, and master the technique of the returning boomerang. Authentic stone-age artefacts have been returned to their traditional owners and are now on display in Tjapukai’s museum space. Large murals by Tjapukai‘s foremost artists richly convey stories of the Dreamtime. Giant holograms reminiscent of the spirit world add a mesmerising quality to the live performance of the Dreamtime story of the Tjapukai. An Aboriginal Cultural corroboree, song and dance spectacular is set in a natural rainforest amphitheatre. The rainforest is a rich food source for the Tjapukai people, but many of its foods are toxic and require special preparation. Watch how it is done and enjoy the opportunity to touch, taste and feel local bush tucker.

Stay for morning or afternoon tea, a light snack or buffet lunch in the fully licensed Boomerang Restaurant. Authentic Aboriginal products including boomerangs, paintings, didgeridoos and artefacts are also on display in the Retail Gallery.

Meeting/pick-up point: Accommodation in Cairns and northern beaches (excludes Ellis Beach, Machans Beach or Holloways Beach).
Duration: Approx. three hours.
Start/opening time: From Cairns, at 8.30am or 12.30pm. From northern beaches, 9.15am or 1pm.
End/closing time: Return to Cairns at 12.30pm or 5pm.